MassDOT is examining the benefits and impacts that would result from any changes to McGrath Highway on the corridor and other area roadways. The study will also identify opportunities for new development parcels and/or park space, as well as ways to improve multimodal access for the region and adjacent neighborhoods. The study will recommend short, medium, and long-term improvement suggestions for the corridor.

Grant funding to conduct the assessment is provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health from The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

3 thoughts on “Grounding McGrath Highway- Route 28: Health Impact”

It is great that the MDoT is undertaking the grounding McGrath Study. It’s puzzling to me that repairs are going forward even though the study will be completed (according to the Grounding McGrath website) in late Spring of 2012. Wouldn’t it make sense to at least wait for the completion of the study before crafting and putting out to bid an RFP to fix the bridge? At a minimum repairs should seek to complete the street. As I understand it the current repairs will do nothing to improve transit, pedestrian or cycling conditions on the road. Unlike Casey overpass, there is broad consensus in Somerville to take the overpass down. Without getting fancy, can the state address the cost implications of a simple surface option verses repairs? ———————————————————————– # Why is MassDOT making repairs on the elevated structure before the completion of the Study? Answer: The McCarthy Overpass viaduct on Route 28 is in poor condition. It is paramount that MassDOT maintain the safety and functionality of its infrastructure. The scheduled repair work will restore the viaduct and keep it in good repair for approximately ten years, the expected time that would be required to implement any long-term recommendations.

According to this post, the Grounding McGrath study “will recommend short, medium, and long-term improvement suggestions for the corridor.” If this is indeed the case, doesn’t the RFP to repair the overpass thwart this effect? Doesn’t fixing the overpass limit what options there are for the short and medium term improvements? What if the Grounding McGrath Working Group determines that the overpass should not be repaired in the short term, and that it should be closed or that heavy vehicles should be restricted until it can be demolished? What if the working group wants to make pedestrian, bicycle, and transit improvements to the area? If the RFP has already been issued and money allocated solely to repair the overpass for cars, where will the money come from for these other improvements? The community is very concerned that millions are being spent to preserve the overpass before the Working Group develops it’s recommendations. They are very afraid that once those recommendations are developed, the only money available will have already been spent to do the exact opposite of what they wanted, with no additional money identified to make their vision a reality. ———————————————————————– Thanks. Your comments have been passed along to the project managers. The McCarthy Overpass viaduct on Route 28 is in poor condition. It is paramount that MassDOT maintain the safety and functionality of its infrastructure. The scheduled repair work will restore the viaduct and keep it in good repair for approximately ten years, the expected time that would be required to implement any long-term recommendations.